Syrian Army Smashes Militants in Homs Outskirts

Source : Farsnews

TEHRAN (FNA)- The Syrian troops continued mop-up operations in Palmyra and several neighborhoods of Homs and inflicted heavy losses upon militants.

The Syrian army tightened control over a number of buildings in Bab Houd neighborhood in Homs old city, after killing and wounding a large number of antigovernment fighters in the battle fields, a military source told the Syrian Arab News Agency.

The army units raided rebels' dens and gatherings near al-Amal hospital in Jourat al-Shyah, al-Qosour and al- Khalidyeh neighborhoods, killing and wounding all militants there, the source added.

Other units of the Syrian army targeted rebels' heavy machineguns on Talbisa-al-Sa'ein road in the Northern countryside of Homs, inflicting heavy losses upon them.

The Syrian soldiers killed a number of militants near al-Ghajar village in al-Rastan countryside. Tamim Obaid, the leader of an armed group, and Ahmad Satuf Kdad were among the killed insurgents.

In Palmyra countryside, the Syrian soldiers clashed with members of AL-Islam Brigade in al-Tayba village, killing so many of them, while another army unit repelled rebels' attempt to attack military checkpoints in al-Zyraa, al- Mouthaf and al-Braikat, inflicting heavy losses upon them.

Meanwhile, other army units traced armed groups in al-Mashajer al-Janobi, Taldo, al-Zafarana and Talbisa in Homs countryside, killing and wounding scores of fighters.

Syria Introduces Two New Satellite Channels

Source : Al Akhbar English

On Syria TV’s morning talk shows, the topics range from the day’s weather to segments highlighting the latest fashion trends. At night, the news programs depict countless convoys of martyrs inside coffins.

In either broadcast scenario, the Syrian media live an isolated existence. The boundaries of their coverage are firmly set, their realities constructed with the aim of insulating Syrians from any outside realities.

The Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) specializes in singing the praises of the government and its achievements. It publicizes the statements of ministers on job opportunities, temporary housing for the displaced, and securing medication.

This, in a nutshell, is the state of Syrian media today, but the General Organization of Radio and TV has announced that change is on the way. Two new channels are in the works. The “Uruba” and “Talaqi” channels are supposed to be fundamentally different than the current options.

Talaqi began its experimental broadcast a while back. The channel shaped its identity as being broadcast from Damascus, the oldest capital in the world. Its programs focused on the possibility of different groups of Syrians co-existing, no matter how far apart they’ve been driven.

The Uruba, or Arabism, station harkens Baath Party slogans. Sources within the station said that it is meant to address the whole Arab world. It was initially designed to be the government’s back-up station, meaning, if the regime was isolated and Syrian stations dropped by Arab satellite companies, the new channel would take the place of the Syrian Satellite Channel.

When the Syrian Satellite Channel was dropped, Syrian authorities got it back up and running on the grounds of its contracts with the private company Nilesat. As such, Uruba came to fulfill a different purpose.

Sources say that $18 million has been allocated to rehabilitate the Syrian Satellite Channel. The station might go off the air for two months for studio renovation and a reconsideration of media strategy.